This would be practical for the majority of commuters, certainly as a second car. If I had the room, I would buy a car of this type.
Its counterintutitve to environmentalists that more can be less.
They believe that Americans have too many cars, so they believe that higher efficiency cars must replace lower efficiency cars, but its a false choice. You can only drive one car at a time.
Making 20 trips to the grocery store on a scooter is not efficient, but having a scooter and a car can be very efficient.
Its a matter of having the right tool to match the job at hand.